Deep Superficial Places

Horton Plaza Mall, San Diego

Consume and buy so that your dreams come true.

"Places that can gather and affirm us still exist?"

"Of course. Even this chintzy mall. Your problem isn't that you don't have places, it's that you find them too thin in what they affirm. But you have to look around; there's lots of thicker places but they are often dispersed on the nets. Even this mall thickens up when you experience it in all its relations and connections. You call them superficial places but often they're places experienced superficially."

"You've got to admit that our culture and economy encourage that superficial experience."

"True, but back in medieval Japan we spent a lot of energy trying to keep the people from seeing the real power connections behind the shrine business."

"It all seems a lot worse now."

"It's more international now, and the tools of persuasion and obfuscation are more sophisticated. So we spirits get out and look around. You should too."

• [Nearby: Mall Spirit -- Centers and roots -- On The Move ]